Plows



Nov. 13, 1962 T. H. NELSON 3,063,505

PLOWS Filed March 25, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

TOM HOLLAND NELSON BYW4EVQ ATTORNEY Nov. 13, 1962 T. H. NELSON 3,063,505

PLOWS Filed March 23, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

TOM HOLLAND NELSON ATTORNEY 3,063,505 FLOWS Tom Holland Nelson, Rather-wood Farm, RD. 2, Berlin, Md. Filed Mar. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 801,091 14 Claims. (Cl. 172--747) This invention relates to agricultural implements and more particularly to improvements in the soil engaging portions of a plow.

For many years the problem of eXcess wear of the ground contacting portions of the plow has engaged the attention of plow and plowshare manufacturers. Many attempts have been made in the past to reduce the efiects of wear and thus lengthen the life of the plow parts. With this end in view, attempts were made to thicken certain areas of the plow parts, some of which were partially successful, but the resulting increased costs or other disadvantages precluded the wholly successful adoption of these innovations. Included in these attempts were the welding of shins on the nose of plowshares, the provision of a thickened point or nose on cast plowshares, the upsetting of the metal to reinforce an edge or nose point of the share, and the provision of an auxiliary blade fitted to the side of a worn blade or share. With the advent of tractor plowing, the increased width and depth of the furrow cut and the speed of advance of the plows has resulted in increased pressures being applied to the plow parts and faster wear of the areas of the plows subjected to such pressures. Moreover, frequently as the plowshare wore at its forward end it lifted or rose as it was advanced with the concomitant result of reducing the depth of the cut and increasing the wear of the bottom edge of the share not only in the forward portion but throughout its length.

The present invention aims to improve the construction and the functioning of the earth engaging portions of plows while at the same time substantially increasing its wear resistance. The improvements provided by this invention not only considerably prolong the life of these plow parts but they also additionally function to cause the plows to pull down into the ground rather than ride out of the ground as wear takes place, as occurs in many suggested designs, thus assuring a deep furrow out throughout the life of the plow. Moreover, the shape and contour of the plow bottom parts provided by this invention improves the deflection of the earth by applying forces which tend to separate the earth particles as they ride up the surfaces of the share and shin with resulting less abrasive action on all ground engaging surface portions of the plow.

Additionally, to further increase the hardness and toughness of the plow bottom parts to the abrasive action of the soil, these improved parts are preferably formed throughout of an alloy of steel which provides exceptional wear resistance as well as further providing a mirror-like finish which will remain throughout the life of these parts and thus avoid the debilitating effects of rusting. The alloy steel selected has such elements as carbon, chromiurn and nickel incorporated therein and so proportioned as to form the plow bottom parts wholly of a specially durable type of stainless steel. The result is a plow having the earth contacting portions thereof scientifically shaped and contoured to resist wear and to maintain a deep furrow while being wholly composed of tough, durable metal, rustless under atmospheric conditions.

It is thus apparent that an important object of the invention is to provide a plow of improved construction which considerably prolongs the life of the bottom parts thereof.

It is another important object of the invention to provide an improved plow having a long life and functioning to enter the soil rather than lift thereout regardless of the wear of the soil engaging surfaces thereof.

It is another important object of the invention to provide tough, wear resistant plow parts which, although accommodating thickened portions of special design, are capable of manufacture at relatively low cost.

It is another important object of the invention to improve the forward end sections of plows, and particularly the plowshare and shin portions thereof, to provide increased resistance to wear while at the same time to provide surfaces which react with the earth to spread and break the soil.

it is still another important object of the invention to provide an improved plowshare having a novel surface contour designed particularly to resist wear and to react with the earth for forceably holding the share at this desired cutting depth.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide plow bottom parts, particularly the share and shin thereof, which are formed wholly of tough, hard metal capable of maintaining a polished surface for ground contact and incapable of rusting during idle periods.

Various other objects, advantages and meritorious features will become more fully apparent from the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a set of tractor drawn plows each incorporating the present invention therein and schematically showing the plows in operation below ground level;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view in plan of the set of plows of FIG. 1 showing the relative positions of the same in the act of plowing adjacent furrows;

FIG. 2a is a top perspective view of a plowshare of the present invention showing turbulent action of soil thereon;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a single plow constructed in accordance with this invention and showing the surface contours of the plowshare and shin resulting therefrom; FIG. 4 is a prospective view of the plow of FIG. 3 as would be observed in the operating position of FIG. 1 and schematically illustrating the flowing and turning movement of the soil thereover;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a plowshare constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 6 is a top edge view of the plowshare of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through the plowshare of FIG. 5 taken along line 7-7 thereof;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view through the plowshare of FIG. 5 taken along line 8-8 thereof;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view through the plowshare of FIG. 5 taken along line 9'9 thereof; and FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation of the forward end of the plow constructed in accordance with this invention and showing the aligned relation of the thickened portions of the share and shin.

With initial reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is usual in tractor drawn plow implements to mount a plurality of plows in an off-set tandem relation, that is, with the plows aligned in a row angularly related to the direction of travel of all of the plows as depicted in FIG. 2. Three plows, generally indicated at 10, 12. and 14, are shown in the tandem arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2, it being understood that fewer or more plows can be drawn in this fashion by an appropriate tractor or other propelling means. The plows are connected by generally similar arms or brackets 16 to a longitudinal frame 18, the forward end of the latter being coupled to a tractor (not shown). Auxiliary tilling implements such as the serrated discs 20 may be associated in side and rearward relation to each plow.

When drawn by a tractor in the direction of the full line arrows shown in FIG. 2,. the three plows lit, 12 and 14 cut separate adjoining furrows in the conventional manner, the leading plow 1t turning the soil over onto the previously furrowed lane and the two remaining plows turning the soil into the tract of the preceding plow. It is evident that each plow cuts into unplowed soil but with the rearward portion of each plow operating on soil closely adjacent to a furrow previously formed and thus is to an appreciable extent relieved of the pressure encountered by the forward portion of each plow. It is thus apparent that the forward or leading edge portion of the plow, and particularly the nose of each share, will encounter greater resistance and thus be subjected to a greater abrasive actionof the soil.

PEG. 3 illustrates in more detail a plow having the improvement of the present invention incorporated therein. conventionally, a plow comprises three major portions identified as the moldboard 22, the plowshare 24, and the shin 26. These parts are bolted or otherwise fixed to a supporting frame which, since it forms no part of the present invention and may be of conventional construction, is not illustrated herein. As previously mentioned, the front end of the plow encounters the greater wearing action of the soil and it is to this area that the present invention in the main applies.

As shown in FIG. 3 but illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 5 to 10, the front end of the plow is provided with a thickened portion in the form of an elongated ridge 2% commencing at its lower end slightly aft of the nose 30 of the plowshare and extending upwardly and rearwardly acrossthe share and entering and partially extending across the shin 26. The ridge 28 provides a bulge of metal which increases the thickness of the share and shin where it is located, but contrasting with previous methods of strengthening these parts of the plow, the major thickness of the ridge is rearward of the front side edge of the share and shin as will be more particularly described hereinafter.

With particular reference to FIGS. 5 to 9, the plowshare of the invention is shown having the general shape and dimensions of a conventional share but with the addition of the ridge or bulge of metal indicated at 28. The illustrated share 24 is generally rectangular in shape having a substantially parallel top and bottom edges 31 and 32, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined front or leading edge 34, and a back edge 36. The back or trailing edge 36, although shown as upwardly and forwardly inclined, often assumes different angles in commercial usage and its angularity is of little consequence to the plowshare constructed in accordance with this invention. For the major portion of its length the plowshare is of substantially the same thickness as is evident in FIGS. 6 and 7, although it may have a slight diminishing thickness from the upper edge 31 to the lower edge 32, as indicated in the crosssectional view of FIG. 9. At appropriate 10- cations the share is provided with bolt holes 318 for the purpose of receiving bolts for mounting the share upon supporting structure of the plow. As shown, these holes may be tapered from the normal outer side of the share to the inner side thereof.

As previously pointed out hereinabove, the forward area of the plowshare receives the greatest wearing action of the soil. To provide a share of substantially longer life and of increased efiiciency in accordance with this invention, the front section of the share is thickened to provide the ridge or bulge of metal 40 constituting the lower section of the previously described thickened portion 28. Unlike attempts in the past to reduce wear, the maximum thickness of the ridge is not located at the nose 30 or along the front side edge 34, but rearwardly thereof. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, the ridge 49 extends completely across the share from the bottom edge to the top edge thereof and in substantially parallel relation to the front side edge 34. The ridge exhibits a substantially cylinthe maximum height spaced inwardly therefrom.

4 drical surface having opposite slopes 42 and 44 of gradual decline. The maximum height of the ridge is located spaced from the front side edge 34 approximately the width of the forward slope 42. The forward slope progressively declines toward the front side edge 34 and terminates thereat. The rear slope 44 similarly gradually declines and terminates by merger with the normal thickness of the share. Preferably the maximum thickness of the ridge 4% is substantially equal to twice the normal thickness of the share, as is evident in the sectional views of FIGS. 7 and 8. The top of the cylindrically shaped ridge, representing the maximum thickness thereof, is indicated by the section line 8-8 of FIG. 5, and it extends at an upwardly and rearwardly inclined angle when the share is viewed in side elevation. It is evident that the maximum height of the thickened reinforcement is in spaced parallel relation to the front side edge 34.

The lower end of the ridge 40 may be chamfered or bevelled as at 46. This bevel together with the bevel of the nose 30 of the share forms two angularly related flat faces at the point of the share.

Another important feature of the invention is the carrying over of the ridge 4t! of the share into the shin portion 26 of the plow. As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 10, the shin 26 is shaped with a rounded ridge 48 which constitutes the upper section of the thickened portion 28 of the plow, a prolongation of the ridge 46 of the share. At the line of abutment of the share and shin, the two ridges 40 and 48 conform in shape and thickness. However, as the ridge 48 of the shin progresses away from the ridge 46, it is preferably gradually diminished in height until it fades into the normal thickness of the shin. The composite ridge 28 formed by the share and shin ridge sections 40 and 48 provides a thickened rounded ridge of metal of cylindrical surface configuration extending across the forward area of the plow, the direction of the ridge being parallel to the front side edge of the plow but with In the shin the ridge preferably gradually loses its significance as a bulge as it approaches the abutment of the shin to the moldboard 22.

In addition to substantially strengthening the wear resistance of the plow, the composite ridge 28 formed by the ridge sections 40 and 48 of the share and shin respectively functions in. a novel manner to spread the soil engaged by the plow and thus distribute the wearing soil pathsover a wider area thus dissipating the wearing action of the soil. Moreover, the ridges provide a bulge of metal slightly rearwardly of the leading front edge 34 of the plow bottom parts which reacts with the soil to hold or pull down the plow into the ground as it advances therethrough. With reference to FlGS. 2a and 4, the flow paths of the soil as the plow advances therethrough is illustrated by the dotted arrows. As will be more fully pointed out hereinafter, the ridges 40 and 48 act to spread the soil pathways in a fan-like manner over the forward surfaces of the plow distributing the load over a wider area than customarily and thus avoid acute wearing of the plow parts on a narrow pathway running into the moldboard.

With more particular reference to FIG. 4, the plow is shown with the plow bottom parts below the ground level indicated at 50 and in a perspective relation as observed from one side of the direction of the travel of the plow. The dash arrow lines in FIG. 4 simulate the pathways of the soil particles contacting the surface portions of the plow. Since the plowshare 24 is positioned at an approximate angle to its direction of advancement through the ground, the soil particles ride up over the lower edge 32 of the share at an acute angle thereto and continue across the share along paths generally parallel to the forward side edge 34 of the share. The earth lifted by the share is carried thereacross and upwardly into the moldboard where it is turned over and rolled to the right side of the furrow cut by the plow.

At the forward area of the plow where the geratest wearing action occurs the crown character of the cylindrically surfaced ridge 28 exerts pressure upon the soil riding up the ridge tending to spread the soil particles laterally as well as deflecting some of the soil pathways more rearwardly of the plow as schematically shown by dash lines in FIG. 4. By reason of the crowned effect of the ridge, it presents a greater surface per square area to the soil than the flatter surface portions of the balance of the plow. The result is, the crowned effect of the ridge 28 exerts forces as represented by the short full line arrows in FIG. 4 acting laterally to disperse the soil particles which ride up the ridge and creating a turbulence as schematically represented by the arrows in FIG. 2a, thus tending to break up the soil mass engaging the forward area of the plow, while at the same time fanning out the soil pathways so that they are not channeled along a narrow path running into the shin and moldboard.

As mentioned earlier hereinabove, it is desirable to form the plow bottom parts with the cylindrically surfaced ridge 28 forming an integral part thereof. Preferably the share 24 and the shin 26 are cast with the ridge sections 46 and 48 respectively formed in these parts of the plow and such that each ridge section forms an extension of the other, as described in connection with FIG. 10. Preferably the share and shin portions of the plow are wholly composed of cast alloy steel having the ridge sections formed therein at the time of the casting. So formed, it is evident that the maximum height of the ridge 28 is spaced rearwardly from the forward leading edge 34 of the plow approximately the width of the forward slope of the ridge. The forward slope of the ridge tapers gradually to the edge 34 and terminates thereat. The rear slope tapers gradually in the direction of the rear end of the plow and indistinguishably merges with the normal thickness of the plow bottom parts. As is evident in FIGS. 2 and 4, the longitudinal median line of the ridge extends approximately the same direction as the normal travel of the plow through the soil, the maximum thickness of the ridge being spaced from the forward side edge 34 of the plow and having a thickness as indicated in FIG. 7 of approximately twice that of the normal thickness of the share and shin portions.

Preferably, as earlier mentioned hereinabove, it is desired to form the shin and share parts of an alloy of steel which provides exceptional wear resistance as well as providing the mirror-like finish which will continue throughout the life of these parts. The alloy steel preferred is a special stainless steel. An analysis of the preferred stainless steel alloy is:

To this proportion of elements there may be added, if desired, small percentages of boron, molybdenium, titanium or copper. Essentially, however, the preferred stainless steel alloy is that indicated in the above table. The alloy is heat treatable to give varying degrees of hardness.

There has thus been described certain improvements in plows and particularly the bottom ground engaging parts thereof, which not only considerably prolong the life thereof, but also additionally cause the parts to react with the soil to hold the plow in the ground and at the same time spread the abrasive action of the soil to avoid excessive wear on narrow channels of these parts. Moreover, the preferred material of which these parts are formed is durable, hard and wear-resistant and provides 6 a mirror-like polished surface which is rustless under atmospheric conditions.

What I claim is:

1. A plow which is subject to substantial wear over the working face thereof, the wear in the forward area of the plow being greater than in the remaining areas thereof, a ridge of metal integrally joined to the working face of the forward area of the plow and extending in the direction of the normal travel of the plow through the soil, said ridge exhibiting a substantially cylindrical surface having opposite slopes of gradual decline, the slope on the forward side of the ridge terminating at the front side edge of the plow and thus predisposing the maximum height of the ridge spaced rearwardly from the front side edge of the plow.

2. A plow which is subject to substantial wear over the working face thereof, the wear in the forward area of the plow being greater than in the remaining areas thereof, a ridge of metal integrally joined to the working face of the forward area of the plow and exhibiting a substantially cylindrical surface having opposite slopes of gradual decline, said ridge extending in the direction of the normal advance of the plow through the soil, the slope on the forward side of the ridge tapering gradually to the forward side edge of the plow, the maximum height of the ridge being spaced rearwardly from the front side edge of the share the extent of the width of the forward side slope thereof, and the slope on the rearward side of the ridge tapering gradually and merging with the normal thickness of the plow.

3. A plow including a moldboard portion, a share portion and a shin portion, the wearing action of the soil on the forward area of the plow being greater than in the remaining areas thereof, a ridge of metal integrally joined to the working face of the forward area of the plow and extending in the direction of the normal travel of the plow through the soil, said ridge exhibiting a substantially cylindrical surface having opposite slopes of gradual decline, the slope on the forward side of the ridge terminating at the front side edge of the plow and thus predisposing the maximum height of the ridge in rearwardly spaced relation to the front side edge of the plow, said ridge extending across the share portion and entering and extending at least partially across the shin portion.

4. A plow including a moldboard portion, a share portion and a shin portion, the wearing action of the soil on the forward area of the plow being greater than in the remaining areas thereof, a ridge of metal integrally joined to the working face of the forward area of the plow and exhibiting a substantially cylindrical surface having opposite slopes of gradual decline, said ridge extending in the direction of the normal advance of the plow through the soil completely across the share portion and entering and extending at least partially across the shin portion, the slope on the forward side of the ridge tapering gradually to the front side edge of plow, and the maximum height of the ridge being spaced rearwardly from the front side edge of the plow the extent of the width of the forward side slope thereof, and the slope on the rearward side of the ridge tape-ring gradually and merging with the normal thickness of the plow.

5. A plow including a moldboard portion, a share portion and a shin portion, the wearing action of the soil on the forward area of the plow being greater than in the remaining areas thereof, said plow having a substantially straight edge along the bottom of the share portion and a rearwardly inclined front side edge along both the share and shin portions, a ridge formed integrally onto the soil engaging working face of the forward area of the plow adjacent to the inclined front side edge thereof and extending substantially parallel thereto, said ridge extending from the bottom edge of the share portion to approximately the middle area of the shin portion in a direction generally parallel to said front side edge and exhibiting a substantially cylindrical surface having opposite slopes of gradualv decline, the slope of the forward side of the ridge declining toward said front side edge and terminating thereat, the top of the ridge representing the maximum thickness of the plowshare being approximately twice the thickness of the balance of the plowshare and being spaced rearwardly frornsaid front side edge a distance equal to the forward slope of the ridge,

6. A plowshare having the forward portion thereof shaped with a ridge of thicker metal than the balance thereof defining a substantially cylindrical surface on the working face of the share, said ridge extending at a substantially uniform height completely across the front portion of the share from the bottom edge to the top edge thereof and further extending in an upward and rearwardly inclined direction from the bottom edge of the share, the maximum altitude of the ridge having a thickness approximately twice that of the balance of the share and being located adjacent to but rearwardly spaced from the front side edge of the share.

7. A plowshare having the forward end portion of the share provided with a ridge of metal of approximately twice the thickness of the balance of the plowshare and exhibiting a substantially cylindrical surface on the working face of the plowshare, said ridge extending at a substantially uniform heightcrosswise of the forward portion of the plowshare from the bottom edge to the top edge thereof with the longitudinal axis of the ridge extending in thedirection of the normal advancement. of the plowshare in the soil. 7

8. A plowshare which is subject to substantial wear over the working face thereof, the wear in the forward areaof the share being greater than in the remaining areas thereof, said plowshare having a substantially straight bottom edge, a top-edge generally parallel to the bottom edge, and a rearwardly inclined front side edge, a ridge integrally joined to the working face of the forward area adjacent to the inclined front side edge, said ridge being of approximatelyuniform height across the plowshare from the bottom edge to the top edge thereof and extending substantial- 1y parallel to but slightly spaced from the front side edge, said ridge further exhibiting a substantially cylindrical surface having opposite slopes of gradual decline, the slope of the forward sideof the ridge declining toward the front side edge and terminating thereat, the top of the ridge representing the maximum thickness thereof being spaced rearwardly from the inclined front side edge a distance equal to the forward slope thereof 9. A plowshare which is subject to substantial wear over the working face thereof, the wear in the forward area of the share being greater than in the remaining areas thereof, said plowshare having a substantially straight parallel top and bottom edges and a rearwardly inclined front side edge, a ridge formed integrally onto the soil engaging working face of the forward area of the plowshare adjacent to the inclined front side edge and extending substantially parallel thereto, said ridge extending from the bottom edge to the top edge of the plowshare and exhibiting a substantially cylindrical surface having opposite slopes of gradual decline, the slope of the forward side of the ridge declining toward the front side edge and terminating thereat, the top of the ridge representing the maximum thickness of the plowshare being approximately twice the thickness of the balance of the plowshare and being spaced rearwardly from the inclined front side edge a distance approximately equal to the forward slope of the ridge.

10. A plowshare wholly composed of cast alloy steel and having the forward portion thereof shaped with a ridge of thicker metal than the balance thereof and de fining a substantially cylindrical surface on the working face of the share, said ridge extending completely across "the front portion of the share in an upward and rear- 8 wardly inclined direction to the bottomedge of the share, the maximum altitude of. the ridge having a thickness approximately twice the thickness. of the balance of the share and being located adjacent tobut spaced from the front side edge of the share.

ll. A plowshare wholly formed of cast alloy steel and having a substantially straight parallel top and bottom edges and a rearwardly inclined front side edge, the forward area ofthe soil engaging working face of the plowshare having cast therein a ridge of thicker metal extending completely across the plowshare from the top to the bottom edges thereof said ridge being located adjacent to the front side edge of the plowshare and extending substantially parallel thereto, said ridge further exhibiting a substantially cylindrical surface having opposite slopes of gradual decline, the slope of the ridge on the forward side thereof gradually declining toward the inclined front side edge of the plowshare and terminating thereat, the slope of the ridge on the rear side thereof gradually declining and indistinguishably merging with the normal thickness of the plowshare, and the top of the ridge representing the maximum thickness of the plowshare being approximately twice the thickness of the rearward areas thereof and being spaced from the inclined front side edge the distance of its forward slope.

12. A plowshare comprising a blade-like member having substantially parallel. top and bottom edges and an upwardly and rearwardly inclined front side edge forming at its juncture with the bottom edge the nose'of the plowshare, said member being wholly. composed of a metal casting and beingsubstantially uniform in thickness throughout its length except for a thickened section cast therein adjacent to the front side edge of the plowshare, said thickened section exhibiting a ridge-like formation having opposite slopes of gradual decline and extending completely across the plowshare parallel to the front side edge thereof, the top of the ridge representing the maximum thickness of thickened section and intersecting the bottom edge of the member rearwardly of the nose of the plowshare.

13. A plow including a share member and a shin mem ber in edge abutting relation, said members each having their respective working faces provided with a thickened portion exhibiting a ridge-like formation having opposite slopes of gradual decline, said ridge-like formations of the two members being aligned and in co-ext'ensive relation at their abutting edges.

14. A plow including a share member and ashin member arranged in edge abutting relation and having their respective front side edges in coextensive relation, said members each having their respective working faces provided with a thickened portion exhibiting a ridge-like formation ha-ving opposite slopes of gradual decline, said ridge-like formations of the two members being in alignment with one another. and dimensionally symmetrical at their abutting edges, the top of the ridge-like formations representing the maximum thickness oftheir respective members and extending parallel to'the front side edges thereof but in rearward spaced relation thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 877,359 McWane Jan. 21, 1908 1,422,096 Girin July 11, 1922 1,560,099 Rich Nov. 3, 1925 2,063,688 Lier Dec. 8, 1936 2,452,387 Mossak Oct. 26, 1948 2,626,555 Frevik Jan. 27, 1953 2,908,339 Cook Oct. 13, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 656,069 Germany Jan. 28, 1938 

